Judge boots Mike Duggan from Detroit Mayor ballot

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Lita Popke made her ruling after a two-hour hearing.

Along with Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, Duggan is considered a leading candidate to succeed Mayor Dave Bing, who has announced he will not seek re-election to a second term.

"This ruling is contrary to the opinion of every election lawyer who has looked at the case," Duggan said in a statement following the hearing. "We're reviewing our legal options with our lawyers and will make a decision shortly on how we'll proceed."

Duggan moved into Detroit last year from Livonia, a western suburb.

Tom Barrow, another candidate in this years' race, said Duggan wasn't registered long enough as a city voter when he filed petitions in April. Barrow filed suit last month seeking to have the court force the Detroit Election Commission to take Duggan's name off the ballot.

The Election Commission later voted 2-1 to keep Duggan's name on.

Popke's ruling reverses that, Barrow said Tuesday.

"The court ruled Mr. Duggan did not meet the (City) Charter's requirement for residency," Barrow told The Associated Press. "It re-establishes the rule of law here in Detroit. I think it would be a mistake and a waste of the city's money for him to appeal. It will delay the obvious."

Barrow said Duggan registered to vote on April 16, 2012, but filed nominating petitions April 2, 2013 -- about two weeks short of the 1-year residency requirement.

"He was sloppy in that he didn't read the statute and filed two weeks sooner," Barrow said of Duggan.

Barrow, an accountant, is making his fourth run at Detroit mayor. He unsuccessfully challenged Coleman A. Young for mayor in 1985 and 1989, before losing to Bing in a close race four years ago.

The role of Detroit's mayor is diminished under state-appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr.

The Washington-based bankruptcy expert was hired in March to fix the city's decrepit finances, which include a budget deficit that could reach $380 million by July 1 and more than $14 billion in long-term debt.